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The word Chhath denotes the Sasthi, meaning sixth. The word is a Parvaitin derivation (from the Sanskrit word-parv, meaning ‘occasion or ‘festival’) and these are women . It is also known as Surya Shasthi’ Chhati and Dala Chhath. It falls on the ‘Kartik Shukla Shashthi’ which is the 6th day of Kartika month in the ‘Vikram Samvat’. Commemorated on the 6th Day after Diwali, another major Hindu festival, it generally falls during the Gregorian months of October-November. This year Chhath Puja is falling on Saturday, November 2, 2019. Chhath Puja is a four-day-long festival celebrated in the Northern states of India; Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and the Terai region of Nepal in modern times, and is more prevalent in areas where migrants from those areas have a presence. It is celebrated in all regions and major urban centers in India. The Chhath Puja is dedicated to the Sun and his Sister Shashti devi (Chhathi Maiya) in order to thank them for bestowing the bounties of life on earth and to request the granting of certain wishes.

Chhath Puja Ritual and Traditions

The rituals of the festival are rigorous and are observed over a period of four days. Day One:-‘Nahay khay’ falling on Thursday, October 31, 2019. On the first day of Chhath Puja, the Parvaitin takes a holy bath and cook a proper meal and is only broken on the next evening. Day Two:-‘Lohanda and Kharan’ falling on Friday, November 1, 2019. On the second day of the festival, the pravaitin cooks the Prasad on her own that includes kheer and chapatis. Women break their fast with this prasad which is believed to be the most pious prasad of Chhati Maiya. Day Three:-‘Sandhya Argh’ falling on Saturday, November 2, 2019. The two day fast begins, on the third day of the Puja. The pravaitin along with the devotees, walk to the Ghats to offer Arghya to the setting sun. The arghya is an offering of milk and water of holy river Ganga (Gangajal) and is considered to be Amrit (nectar). Chhath Puja is celebrated in winters, it is mighty difficult for the parvaitins and devotees alike to stand waist deep in the chilly waters of the river and offer Arghya. It is believed that one who observes Chhath puja must not wear anything stitched. Hence, most parvaitins (brave they must be) just drape a sari around them. Day Four:-‘Suryodaya/Usha Argh and Paran’ falling on Sunday, November 3, 2019. The journey towards the ghats begins again early morning on the fourth day. The entire ghat is decorated with terracotta lamps and canopies of sugar-cane stalks where the devotees keep their soops (baskets). Each soop consists of the Chhath Prasad that includes the first crop of the season. The morning Arghya is offered again to the rising sun with hymms and folk songs, praying to the sun to ward off evil and dark spirits and enlighten the world with sanctity and goodness.

The festival is especially important for Bihar and it is celebrated with much reverence and fanfare by them.

The Prasad offering includes sweets, kheer, Thekua, rice laddu and fruits (mainly sugarcane, sweet lime, and banana) offered in small bamboo winnows. The food is strictly vegetarian and is cooked without salt, onions or garlic.

History of Chhath Puja

It is believed that the ritual of Chhath Puja may even predate the ancient Vedas, as the Rigveda contains hymns worshiping the sun god and describes similar rituals also find reference in the Sanskrit epic poem Mahabharata in which Draupadi is depicted as observing similar rites. In the poem-Mahabharata Draupadi is depicted observing similar rites. In the poem, Draupadi and the Pandavas, rulers of Indraprastha (modern Delhi), performed the Chhath ritual on the advice of noble sage Dhaumya. It is believed that by worshipping the Sun God, Draupadi was not only able to solve her immediate problems, but also helped the Pandavas later regain their lost kingdom.

It is also believed that Chhath was started by Karan, the son of Surya. Karna ruled over the Anga Desh (present day Bhagalpur district of Bihar) during the Mahabharat period. He was a great warrior and fought against the Pandavas in the Kurukshetra War. It’s yogic/scientific history dates back to the Vedic times. The Sage of yore used this method to remain without any external intake of food as they were able to obtain energy directly from the sun. This was done through the Chhath method.

We didn’t get any benefits after celebrating the festival.

The holy scriptures of Hinduism; Vedas and Shrimad Bhagwad Gita do not support any kind of festivities. These practices are against our scriptures and it is clearly written in Shrimad Bhagwad Gita. Fasting is prohibited in scriptures. In Shrimad Bhagavad Gita Chapter 6 Verse 16: It is stated that:- bhakti is neither successful of one who eats excessively, nor of one who does not eat at all, nor of someone who sleeps too much, nor of someone who remains awake a lot. i.e. Bhagavad Gita prohibits fasting because it is a futile activity. Thus, the only way to ensure the long life and safety of our families is to worship supreme God Kabir Saheb. We must take refuge in the complete Guru (Tattvadarshi Saint). Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4 verse 34.

How to identify a true guru(Enlightened)

Nearly all our holy scriptures give us guidelines to identify the true spiritual guru. Bhagavad Gita Chapter 15 verse 1 enlightened saint will be the one who will be able to explain the different parts of the upside-down tree of the world that is eternal and extensive. Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17 verse 23 true guru will impart true mantras in the three stages and will reveal the secret of the mantras given in this shloka. Yajurveda chapter 19 verse 25, A true guru will be knower of our holy scriptures.

Today, Saint Rampal Ji Maharaj is the only saint who fulfills the criteria of a true saint. He has proved from our Holy Vedas, Holy Bible, Holy Guru Granth Sahib, Holy Quran that Kabir Saheb is the Supreme God. He is the only Saint who is giving true spiritual knowledge according to our holy scriptures and is telling us the path of attaining complete salvation. Saint Rampal Ji Maharaj completes the process of initiation in three stages and tells the way of worship which is verified from the scriptures. He is the only Saint on the earth who is the true representative of Supreme God, who revealed true mantras (Satyanam) to the world. On the occasion of Chhath Puja, we humbly request you to read, listen and understand the complete spiritual knowledge given by Saint Rampal Ji Maharaj and recognize true God. As we get human life only once after attaining 8.4 million life forms, it’s our prime duty to seek Supreme God and attain salvation because this is the main purpose of human life. To know more and complete information visit.